Bryant University, in Smithfield, Rhode Island, is pleased to recognize the students who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and achievement and have been named to the fall 2022 deans’ list. The include:
Jonathan Christopher, of Oakland, Samuel Schmitt and Carly Warn, both of Winslow.
Emerson College, in Boston, Massachusetts, has announced that student Ella Conway, of Skowhegan, earned dean’s list honors for the Fall 2022 Semester. Ella is majoring in Media Arts Production and is a member of the class of 2026.
Photo by Monica Charette
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s 2023 Golf Fore Kids’ Sake, at Samoset Resort, presented by Dover Ford and Union Fair Auto, welcomes teams to participate in its May 26 tournament to support one-to-one youth mentoring.
The annual spring golf tournament is expected to raise over $50,000 for community and school-based mentoring programs across seven counties served by BBBS of Mid-Maine.
“We are excited to welcome a full course of supporters back on the green this spring to help raise critical funding for local youth,” said BBBSMM Interim Executive Director Mae Slevinsky. The tournament is limited to the first 28 teams to register.
In addition to Dover Ford and Union Fair Auto, Golf Fore Kids’ Sake is supported by Colby & Gale and Machias Savings Bank (Major Sponsor); Austin Associates, P.A. (Lunch Sponsor) and Scoreboard Sponsors: PDQ Door, Maine Coast Orthodontics, Rockland Hannaford, and Cape Air.
To sponsor, or to donate to the Golf For Kids’ Sake auction, email info@bbbsmidmaine.org or call 207.236-BBBS (2227). For more information about Golf Fore Kids’ Sake, visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine will hold a second Golf Fore Kids’ Sake tournament on Friday, September 1, at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, presented by Kennebec Savings Bank. Team space is limited. To register, or sponsor, please call 207.236-BBBS (2227).
Big Brother’s Big Sister’s long-standing, successful mentoring programs pair children, ages 5-16 (Littles) with caring, responsible role models (Bigs) in one-to-one friendships in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset, and Waldo counties. By partnering with parents, volunteers and local organizations, children in the program have higher aspirations, greater confidence, develop better relationships, avoid risky behaviors, and achieve educational success.
For information about enrolling a child in our mentoring programs, or becoming a volunteer or mentor, please call 236-BBBS (2227) email info@bbbsmidmaine.org, or visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org.
WILLIAM R. COTTER
CONCORD, Massachusetts – William “Bill” Reckling Cotter, 87, died peacefully at his Concord home on his 87th birthday, Thursday, March 9, 2023. Bill was born on March 9, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Fred J. and Esther (Reckling) Cotter, and lived with his older brother, Fred C., near a large extended family.
Bill and his family moved to Tarrytown, New York, when he was in sixth grade and he graduated from Washington Irving High School there.
He went on to Harvard College, where he was president of the Harvard Democratic Club. In 1956, while serving in that role, he recruited student volunteers at the request of the chairman of Massachusetts Students for (Adlai) Stevenson, Linda Kester, a student at Wellesley College. As Bill was fond of saying, Linda was his boss. They became friends and later, began dating. In 1958, Bill graduated with high honors from Harvard College and went on to Harvard Law School.
Linda and Bill were married in 1959 at the Kester family home in New York and moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Linda earned her master’s degree in teaching at the Harvard School of Education while Bill finished at Harvard Law School, graduating with honors in 1961. Bill and Linda enjoyed 61 years of true partnership, deep friendship, and love until Linda’s death, two years ago.
Bill had an extremely interesting professional life, including as clerk to a federal judge, as an assistant attorney general in Kaduna, Nigeria, as the Ford Foundation representative in Bogotá, Colombia, as a White House Fellow, as president of the African-American Institute in New York City, New York, and as president of the Oak Foundation, in Boston, Massachusetts.
However, the professional role he treasured most was as the longest-serving president of Colby College, in Waterville, from 1979-2000.
In addition to his role as lead administrator and fundraiser, he also taught a course called “Law and Social Change,” and became a dedicated and skilled teacher. He carried this deep love of teaching through the rest of his life. An unusual college president without a Ph.D., during his time as president, he was pleased to receive five honorary degrees. He was especially proud of his work at Colby to strengthen its national academic reputation, build its endowment, and make it a more inclusive community.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Bill was an active volunteer, including serving as treasurer of the Phillips Brooks House at Harvard, chairman of the Oyster Bay (New York) Library Board, chairman of the Board of Maine Public Broadcasting, treasurer of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and as a life trustee at Colby College.
Bill was an accomplished and respected leader in his professional career, but also was a truly beloved father and grandfather. He always made time for his family, despite his busy professional career. He prioritized coming home for dinner and loved to take the family to North Street Dairy Cone for homemade mocha chip afterwards.
Bill lived for his last three years undergoing treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, a fact that that was not evident to most people until last summer, when treatments lost their efficacy and his strength and vigor began to decline. Bill exercised daily and until May of last year, walked five miles per day. While his physical strength was greatly diminished, his mental capacity and speaking ability were not. Bill taught his final Supreme Court class over Zoom on February 14, just three weeks before his death.
In his final days of life, Bill spent time with his children, grandchildren, and close friends at Newbury Court, a true community for him.
Bill was predeceased by his wife, Linda; his daughter, Deborah; and his brother, Fred.
He leaves behind his son David, of San Diego, California; his daughter, Elizabeth and husband Michael Schlax, of Yarmouth; and his granddaughters Elena and Jillian Schlax; his sisters-in-law, Marjorie Smith, of Durham, New Hampshire, and Gai Cotter, of Novi, Michigan, and their families; as well as countless other relatives.
Bill will be laid to rest next to his wife and daughter in Concord, Massachusetts. A memorial gathering will be held in the spring.
To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Bill’s online guestbook, please visit http://www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bill’s memory to Colby College or a charity of your choice
ROME – Dawn P. (Rodgers) Burnham, 62, passed peacefully at home, following a long illness, on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. She was born in Augusta on February 16, 1961.
Dawn enjoyed fishing, boating and spending time with family and friends. She loved being a nanny to her three grandchildren and cherished them.
Dawn was predeceased by her parents and stepfather of Belgrade; and a sister Lois Rodgers of Belgrade.
She is survived by her husband Michael L. Burnham, of Rome; a son Lucas Burnham, of Rome; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Cecelia Rodgers, of Whitefield; sister-in-law Sandra Mitchell, of Rome; three grandchildren, Natalia and Alexis Burnham, and Daymein Burnham, all of Rome.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
WINSLOW – Mary Ellen (Veneziano) Beaulieu, 82, of Winslow, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, of natural causes, following a brief stay at the Oak Grove Center, in Waterville. Mary Ellen was born in Madison on November 17, 1940, to Julian and Mary Veneziano.
She attended Madison public schools where she met dear, life-long friends, especially Patricia Antonuccio and Pamela Messier.
Following high school, she attended beauty school in Portland, then returned to Madison and married Leo Beaulieu in January 1963. The couple was married for 29 years and had three children, Dana, Michael, and Sally, whom they raised in Anson.
Mary Ellen opened her own beauty shop in her home and provided service to her many long-term clients for 30 years until she moved to Winslow in 1997 to be with her significant other of 26 years, Ronald Gilbert. She then worked in the kitchen of the Oak Grove Center,, in Waterville, for five years.
Mary Ellen enjoyed reading, traveling, playing cards, being in the sun, and tennis. She cherished her time with friends, particularly Beanie Richardson and Sylvia Corson. She looked forward to gatherings with her Veneziano cousins, especially her travel and card game partner, Sara Sylvester, with whom she remained close throughout her life.
Mary Ellen was predeceased by her father, Julian, mother, Mary; sister, Betty; husband Leo; and son, Dana.
She is survived by her partner, Ronald Gilbert, of Winslow; daughter, Sally Beaulieu, of Hallowell; son, Michael Beaulieu, of Litchfield; daughter-in-law, Narcisa (Risa) Beaulieu, of Anson; granddaughters Bethany Beaulieu and her partner Tom Bethoney, of Whitman Massachusetts, Darby Beaulieu and her partner Evan Randles, of Waterville, Bianca Beaulieu, of Somerville Massachusetts; and grandson, Bayley Beaulieu, of Litchfield; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will take place in the spring. Arrangements are being handled by Direct Cremation of Maine.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.directcremationofmaine.com
If you are so inclined, please consider a donation to the Dementia Society of America or the American Heart Association.
CHELSEA – Kathryn J. Latulippe, 68, passed away unexpectedly shortly after midnight on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Kathy enjoyed being a passenger on the back of her husband’s motorcycle and camping with her friends. She liked playing games on her tablet, reading, watching paranormal and crime shows and was a Star Trek lover. Kathy enjoyed visiting with her family and friends. She was trusting and genuine in her friendships, honest and tactful with her opinion and advice, and she was a sounding board for people, providing insight they may not have thought of.
As a child she had traveled with her parents and had seen many places before they settled in Maine. She greatly enjoyed trips with her children in the past few years to Mexico and Bahamas. In her youth she wanted to be an actress and felt the memorization of lines for OES helped her with her memory issues from a TBI in her late 20s.
Kathy participated in the Order of the Eastern Star for many years and was currently the outgoing Worthy Matron of the Queen Esther Chapter in Hallowell/Augusta. She was also past Worthy Matron of Rose of Sharon as was her mother. Kathy was a retiree of the State of Maine and was also a member of the union MSEA-SEIU where she was a delegate and served on the board of directors. She was a very strong supporter of labor relations.
Kathy is survived by her husband Ken, of Chelsea; her daughter Tracie Eastman and her children Krystin Gilbert and her husband Dan; Jesse Perreault and his wife Knel-Leigh and their children (Kathy’s great-grandchildren) Aurora, ZiZi, Ellie, and Ana of Augusta; her son and daughter-in-law Joe and Kim Eastman and their children Logan and Emily, of Pittston; her siblings, their spouses and families, Trish and Gary Newcomb, of Newark Ohio, Robert and Cindy Allen, of Fairfield.
She was preceded by her parents Leon and Helen Allen, of Chelsea; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Per Kathy’s request, she is going to be cremated and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are in the care of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church Street, Augusta where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to your favorite charity of choice. Please consider Humane Societies and Traumatic Brain Injury organizations
WINSLOW – Elizabeth “Betty” Marie Ferland, 72, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023, following a short, but courageous battle with cancer.
She was employed by Standard Electric and later Wesco for many, many years. An avid volunteer, she loved helping others. She was presented with the volunteer of the year award from Lakewood Continuing Care Center, in Waterville, in 2018. She also had an unbridled love for animals and spent the last few years fostering dogs in need of adoption.
A very strong, independent woman, Betty never let anyone know how much she was hurting or if she ever needed anything. She not only made sure those around her were taken care of, she made sure she took care of herself. Reading a book on the deck or taking horse riding lessons with her granddaughter were a couple methods she used to accomplish that.
Betty was predeceased by the love of her life Jeff Brown; her son Joshua Moss; and her parents, Ruth Cote, Albert Ferland and stepfather Carl Cote.
She is survived by her son Sean Cote (Kim), daughter Tanya Johnson (Mark); grandchildren, Corianna, Liam, Hazen and Lauren; and great-grandchildren Addison, Charli and Aiden; brothers and sisters, Sally Cunningham, Ginny Allen (James), Peter Ferland (Beth) and Paul Ferland (Sherry); as well as many nieces and nephews.
There will be no immediate services. A graveside service will be held in the spring. Date to be announced at a future time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Northern Lights Continuing Care-Lakewood or your local SPCA.
WATERVILLE – Thomas Malvern Grant, 81, of Waterville, passed away on Monday, March 6, 2023, at Northern Light Inland Hospital. He was born in Waterville, on August 30, 1941, the son of Ford A. Grant and Briley (Thomas) Grant. He graduated from Maine Centrral Institute (MCI), in Pittsfield, in 1959. He attended Thomas College, in Waterville, for three years and completed his fourth year at the University of Maine in Orono where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He later received his master’s degree from UMO.
Tom briefly worked at the C. F. Hathaway Shirt Factory, in Waterville, in bookkeeping and worked as an accountant at a firm in Boston for a year.
He then returned to Waterville and worked in bookkeeping at the Osteopathic Hospital. He became a teacher at Thomas College while he started his accounting business that he ran for nearly 60 years, working 16-hour days especially during tax season, up until about four weeks ago.
Tom was a connoisseur of cars, candy and Coca-Cola. He had a passion for animals, and had countless cats and dogs over the years. He was dedicated to animal rescue. He was a longtime member of Kiwanis.
Tom is predeceased by his parents Ford and Briley Grant, and his stepson Brett Drouin, who passed away on February 28, 2023.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne Grant; his son John Grant, of Waterville and his wife Ankeney Weitz; his daughter Amy S. Grant, of Winthrop; his grandson Casey Ford Grant, of Palmyra; his brother William Grant, of Waterville; his brother in law Randy Gerry; his nieces Kelly Fadden and Kerish Benttinen; and his great-nieces Jody Poulin and Michelle Gerry
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity for the care of animals waiting for their forever homes.
An online guest book may be signed, condolences and memories shared at www.gallantfh.com.
WATERVILLE – Neil Edward Ladd, 85, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Lakewood Continuing Care, in Waterville. Neil was born on June 9, 1937, in Milo, the son of Edward and Vivineen (Rollins) Ladd.
Neil graduated from Brownville Junction High School is 1956. He served in the U.S. Air Force from June 1957 to October 1959. He worked many different jobs in the area and at C.F. Hathaway Shirt Factory, in Waterville, for 35 years before retiring in 2002. Neil married Alice Morency in 1967.
He enjoyed painting landscapes and collected miniature airplanes and had more than 100 of them. He enjoyed the New England Patriots and was a big Tom Brady fan.
Neil was predeceased by his parents; his sister Joanne, who died in infancy, his sister Eva (Ladd) Young and her husband Thomas.
He is survived by his wife Alice; his daughter, Karen Ladd, of Waterville; his sons Kevin Ladd (Dawn), of Chicago, Illinois, Derek Ladd, of Fairfield, and Jason Ladd, of Brunswick; his grandson, Liam Ladd and granddaughter Lira Ladd, of Brunswick; nephews Eric Young, of Milo, Mark Young, of Dover Foxcroft, and nieces Marcia Conlogue, of Williamsburg, and Paula Young, of Hermon; and six grand nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 16, at 10 a.m., at Notre Dame Church, Silver Street, in Waterville. A Committal service will be held Friday, April 14, 2023, at 10 a.m., at Maine Veterans Cemetery Blue Star Highway.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home 8 Elm St. Waterville ME 04901
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.VeilleuxFuneralHome.com for the Ladd family.
FAIRFIELD – Norris N. Braley, 82, was born in Burnham, December 3, 1940.
He is survived by his brother and sister, David Braley and Candyee Smith; his wife, Barbara Braley; and five children; and 11 grandchildren.
As a young boy, he moved to Norton Grove, Massachusetts, for a short period, then moved to Clinton to live with his grandfather. He attended Clinton High School before joining the U.S. Army and successfully qualified for the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which only 3,000 men were chosen. He served three years of active duty fighting as a paratrooper in the Vietnam War, and received an honorable discharge from the Army.
His favorite hobbies were golfing, helping neighbors, watching sports and chasing grandchildren. He focused on decreasing waste and leaving things better than they were. He then returned to Clinton to marry his high school sweetheart and had two children, Kevin Braley and Karen Falla, who gave him four grandchildren, Damion Braley, Sam Falla, Cameron Falla, and Jamie O’Keefe. Later, he met his soul mate again and married her, Barbara E. Emery.
He worked at Keyes Fibre Co. (now Huhtamaki) his entire life in the union and as management, retiring early enough to spend every good day golfing. He and his wife had a son, Calvin J. Braley, who gave him two grandchildren, Megan and Bryce. Two children from his wife’s prior marriage that he raised are Valerie Jarman and Richard Baker, with five grandchildren among them Benjamin Clifford, Vivienne Tilton, and Zachary Baker, Joshua Baker and Samuel Baker.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.VeilleuxFuneralHome.com for the Braley family.
Arrangement are under the care and direction of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home, 8 Elm St., Waterville ME 04901.
On Wednesday, March 29, Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in partnership with Kennebec Savings Bank will host the Central Maine Career Resource Fair. This free event is open to the public and will feature multiple local businesses and community organizations.
Matt Clark, Workforce Development Coordinator at Kennebec Valley Community College and organizer of the fair said, “We really want this event to be a hands-on, interactive experience, and give the participants a chance to showcase and build their skillset.”
There will be local organizations and volunteers from the trades, business, and healthcare industries at the event. They are all looking to support the future success of community members with career readiness activities, developing interviewing skills, supporting financial wellbeing, and producing great networking opportunities.
Director of Workforce Training at KVCC, Joe Musumeci, said, “Participants can bring a copy of their cover letter and resume to be viewed by career preparedness professionals right on site. We will be raffling off a selection of great prizes that can help participants expand their career skills.”
This event is perfect for those looking to enter or reenter the workforce, as well as those looking to transition into a new career path.
The Central Maine Career Resource Fair will start at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., on March 29, 2023, and will be held at KVCC’s Fairfield Campus in Carter Hall.
by Mary GrowMembers of China’s transfer station committee are going to reconsider their recommendation that the town buy a Polaris Ranger 500 utility vehicle for transfer station staff use.
Since their March 7 action (see the March 9 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), they have new information and a new, higher price, according to an email from transfer station employee Cheyenne Houle.
Houle said the Ranger 500 has been replaced by a Ranger 570. The 570 has most features committee members valued in the 500, like a roll cage and lights; Houle wrote that it adds a dump body and has higher ground clearance. Also, she said, recommended time between services has been increased.
The price she brought to the March 7 committee meeting was $10,699. The new price is $900 higher, she said.
Houle is seeking updated prices from two other suppliers. She plans to have information by the next committee meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 11.
by Mary GrowChina Broadband Committee (CBC) members will try again to get a grant to expand broadband service to China residents who are currently underserved or not served at all.
They will again work in partnership with Direct Communications, the Idaho-based company that now owns UniTel, in Unity, with assistance from Mission Broadband, the consultants who have worked with them for several years.
These decisions were the outcome of a March 9 meeting among the parties, the first CBC meeting since last fall, when the first and unsuccessful application was put in final form.
The grants are awarded by the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA). A letter from the MCA rejecting China’s first application (see the Jan. 12 issue of The Town Line, p. 1) said there had been many more applications than available funds could support.
At the March 9 meeting, John Doherty and Jeff Nevins, from Mission Broadband, and Jayne Sullivan, from Unitel/Direct Communications, discussed two issues that will affect the next round of grants: mapping and revisions to MCA’s grant program.
Mapping involves the accuracy – or inaccuracy – of maps purporting to show where improved service is needed. Doherty said that the first maps were by census block; if one home in a block had excellent internet service, the map showed all the neighbors equally well served.
New maps are being prepared by individual addresses. They are expected to be available by June.
The definition of adequate service is also debated, in terms of capacity, speed and reliability.
Sullivan expects MCA’s application form will be revised. She hopes the updated forms will be available by June; the application deadline is currently some so-far-unspecified time in August (which, Doherty pointed out, is a month when people are likely to be on vacation).
Bob O’Connor
Unitel/Direct prepared China’s previous application; CBC members authorized them to prepare a new one, at least in outline pending more information from MCA. Sullivan said the goal is “a winnable application.”
CBC chairman Robert O’Connor had drafted a document that he intended as part of a new application. Sullivan accepted it as useful local input for MCA reviewers; she and O’Connor will continue discussion by email as necessary.
The expectation is that MCA will still require a local funding match, toward which China voters have approved Tax Increment Financing funds.
The next CBC meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 27.
by Mary GrowChina select board members spent most of their March 13 meeting on plans for the June 13 annual town business meeting.
Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood gave them a first draft of the town meeting warrant articles, which will be decided by written ballot. Most articles are the familiar ones: appropriations for the 2023-24 fiscal year that begins July 1, including from the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds; authorization for the select board to take listed actions on behalf of the town; and setting the fall 2023 and spring 2024 tax due dates, for example.
Hapgood pointed out a new article asking voters to authorize municipal officers to close town roads to winter maintenance. If approved, she said, the authority would be available to stop plowing a lightly-populated town road if plow drivers encountered unusual difficulties, like residents’ vehicles consistently in their way.
The March 13 draft warrant included a request for voter action on one proposed ordinance, the Solid Waste Ordinance intended to update and merge two existing ordinances. The manager intends to add an article asking action on the Board of Appeals Ordinance (Chapter 11 of the Land Development Code).
Select board talks about lack of volunteers
At their March 13 meeting, China select board members briefly discussed an on-going problem: how to get volunteers to serve on town boards and committees, elected or appointed.
Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said there are vacancies on the elected planning board (District 4, the southwestern quarter of town) and several appointed boards, including the board of appeals, the Thurston Park committee and the recreation committee.
Amber French is the first volunteer for the comprehensive plan implementation committee that select board members created last summer, Hapgood said.
The town website, china.govoffice.org, has an application for committee membership under the heading “Town Officials, Boards and Committees,” on the first page. Committees and their current members are listed.
The 2023-24 school budget, which also requires voter action, is a separate document that is not included in the municipal warrant.
Hapgood expects select board members to approve a near-final warrant at their March 27 meeting, so it can be forwarded to the budget committee for their recommendations on spending articles.
She proposed a public hearing on the warrant on Monday, May 8. That way, she said, voters can get information before absentee ballots are available starting Monday, May 15.
On Tuesday, June 13, voters in the portable building behind the town office will elect a town meeting moderator at 6:55 a.m. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Select board member Janet Preston wants one more meeting added to the town schedule. Preston plans to apply for a Kennebec Valley Council of Governments program called Community Resiliency; an early step, she said, is a community meeting to get residents’ input on town needs and priorities.
Preston and the KVCOG website indicate that resiliency includes a variety of contemporary issues, like dealing with climate change impacts, environmental hazards, emergency preparations, renewable energy, green infrastructure and transportation.
Preston recommended holding the meeting in March, because the application is due in March. The board took no action.
by Mary GrowThe China Board of Appeals met Friday afternoon, March 10, to hear an appeal of a building permit issued by codes enforcement officer Nicholas French. Board members upheld French’s decision.
The permit was issued on Jan. 9, 2023, to Wayne Paul, Jr. It was appealed by Baiba Bangerskis (for whom her husband, Gundars “Gus” Bangerskis spoke), Raymond Malley and Susan Malley (identified as the widow of James R. Malley), residents of the Yarmouth, Massachusetts, area.
The appeal documents correctly identify French as assistant codes officer and Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood as codes officer. Hapgood holds the title while French completes courses needed for certification (he is almost done); French has been doing the job, and his signature is on Paul’s permit.
After appeals board chairman Spencer Aitel established the board’s authority to hear the appeal, the appellants, appearing virtually, explained the situation, with Bangerskis taking the lead.
They explained that two pieces of land on the east side of Three Mile Pond are involved. One piece is owned jointly by Baiba Bangerskis, two Malleys and Paul. Joint ownership, Gus Bangerskis said, means each party has a one-fourth interest in all of the parcel; none claims a specific piece of it.
Riga Road, formerly Fire Road 71, runs through this lot from Route 32 South to the lake, where several people have homes or seasonal homes. The lakeshore residents have a right-of-way over Riga Road to their properties; Bangerskis said neither Paul nor the other three landowners have a right of way.
Paul also owns and plans to build on the next parcel north, between Riga Road and Fire Road 70. Whether Riga Road touches that lot was part of the debate. Paul said it does; the appellants questioned the accuracy of the old survey on which Paul relied.
Bangerskis also said a deed clause that French cited in correspondence with the appellants was misinterpreted; it does not give Paul a right of way over Riga Road.
The appellants therefore argued that because Paul does not have a right of way over Riga Road, he cannot use it to access his property – they referred to use by trucks delivering lumber and cement trucks – and therefore should not have been granted a building permit.
His only access, they suggested, is by water, from the public landing on Three Mile Pond.
Aitel then asked French why he issued the permit.
French replied that he had no ground on which to deny it.
China’s ordinance does not require a building permit applicant to have road frontage, access or a street address. The requirements are a map and lot number and proof of right, title or interest; Paul provided them.
“How he actually gets to this parcel has nothing to do with me,” French said.
After Aitel gave the two parties a chance to question each other, he asked board members’ opinions. Agreement was quick and unanimous: French’s action was correct.
The access issue may be a problem for the landowner, Robert Fischer said, but it is irrelevant to the codes officer’s decision.
French “did what he is authorized to do,” Stephen Greene said. He suggested other issues between Paul and the appellants should be worked out among them or submitted to a court of law.
The vote on a motion that the codes officer acted correctly in issuing the building permit was 5-0-1, with Fischer, Greene, Michael Gee, Lisa Kane and Alan Pelletier voting yes and Aitel abstaining, as he habitually does when his vote is not essential.
Aitel reminded the appellants that they have the right to appeal the Board of Appeals decision to court.
by Mary GrowWith only four of eight members present (there used to be nine members, but chairman Brent Chesley said Trishea Story had resigned), China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee lacked a quorum for the March 8 meeting. Members decided since their decisions are advisory only, they could go ahead without a quorum.
The agenda included two main items: fund requests left over from the committee’s Feb. 8 meeting (see the Feb. 16 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), and the revolving loan fund (RFL) that is part of China’s TIF program.
Committee members quickly recommended approval of:
Thurston Park Committee chairman Jeanette Smith presented a revised request for TIF funds, mostly to help repair the entrance road into the park. The road washed out in the Dec. 22 storm, and an application for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds was denied.
Smith said trails in the park are usable, once people walk in because they can’t drive until the road is fixed, but caution is advised – the trails, too, suffered washouts and are cluttered with fallen and uprooted trees.
Smith had asked for only the $25,000 a majority of TIF committee members approved Feb.8. Chesley encouraged her to increase the request, and said the select board, on which he serves, should hear the history of the storm damage and the FEMA application before its members act on a request for TIF money.
The revolving loan fund (RLF) is described in China’s TIF plan as intended “to provide existing and new businesses in China with loans to expand operations, add employees and develop new products and with other types of business assistance which expands and improves the town’s economy.”
At their Nov. 22, 2022, meeting, committee members questioned the value of the program. They pointed out that the only loan ever made was in default, and as of November there were no applicants for new loans.
Since then, Chesley said, he had been approached by someone interested in a loan to start a new business in China. On investigation, he found that the town’s agreement with KVCOG to administer the RLF had expired, and had to tell the interested party the committee needed to recreate an administrative framework before reviewing a loan application.
Audience member Thomas Rumpf, who served on the RLF committee when there was one, volunteered to help put a committee together, again. Rumpf also recommended changing the program from loans to grants, an idea committee member Michael “Mickey” Wing supported.
Chesley had already planned to meet with KVCOG officials; he and Rumpf will schedule a meeting.
A change from a loan fund to a grant fund would require a change in the TIF document, which would need approval from China voters and from state Department of Economic and Community Development officials.
The next China TIF committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, May 1.
